MADHOUSE MONDAY 10: THE UNPREDICTABULLS

The Bulls have had a lot of up and down since my last Madhouse and it’s time for some soul searching.Let’s go.

Game Notes

Game 36: Washington at ChicagoFrom what I remember about this game, the Bulls could never really get anything going on either side of the ball. They had trouble all night with Washington’s small ball lineup and got into a track meet for most of the night, which didn’t suit them well. Whenever they were able to slow things down, albeit briefly, the Bulls were able to take advantage of the smaller team. But alas, no dice.

Game 37: Chicago at MilwaukeeCan I hate for a second? The Milwaukee Bucks new uniforms? Cool. Their alternate court design? Also cool. But only dragging out the alternate court for a few games a year? Terrible idea. The rims sounded so bad on TV. They sounded like those bad college rims we have to experience during March Madness, where everything bounces off them. Don’t think they thought that one all the way through.Again, this was another game where the Bulls got into a back and forth track meet against a younger, quicker team and it didn’t work in their favor.

Game 38: Chicago at PhiladelphiaIt always seems like Jimmy goes off for a huge game whenever I go to church. I was at a ministry meeting at my church when he went off for 53 points against Philly and was the soul reason that the Bulls won this game, which is very sad considering that the 76ers are doing everything in their power to land Ben Simmons (not that I blame them).

Game 39: Dallas at ChicagoJimmy had nothing going for him. He looked dead tired. Which really puts into prospective just how amazing guys like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were when they’d be able to put up 40 or 50 a night for stretches. Like we say it’s amazing, but when you really think about it, it is truly astounding. Joakim Noah left with a nasty shoulder injury that’ll unfortunately sideline him for the rest of the year as the Bulls dropped one that they should’ve won.

Game 40: Chicago at DetroitAndre Drummond must wish he could play the Bulls 82 games a year. Seriously, it feels like he goes off every single game he plays against the Bulls. Pau Gasol *surprise* isn’t physical enough down low to handle Drummond and nobody else is big enough to really do anything. Thanks to a big point outting from Pau Gasol, the Bulls were able to win this MLK day showdown.

Game 41: Golden State at ChicagoDerrick Rose did this, but that’s pretty much it as far as positives from this game goes.

Game 42: Chicago at BostonYet another game that the Bulls dropped that they should’ve won. Only Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler really came to play in this game. The Bulls couldn’t get a stop when they needed to and it really came back to bite them in the butt in the end.

Game 43: Chicago at ClevelandThe Bulls were actually able to rise to the challenge and beat LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the guy that Allen Iverson stepped over.Okay, another second to hate/rant.

I understand LeBron didn’t see eye to eye with David Blatt. I get that. There were reports of Blatt not wanting to challenge LeBron in film sessions and freezing up and that can’t happen. Great players want to be coached, but you have to be firm with them (which is easy for me to say as I spectate). However, the fact that Tyronn Lue, who may or may not be a solid head coach going forward, was immediately named head coach instead of interim raises some serious eyebrows. Frankly, as a general NBA fan, not even bringing in coaches like Mark Jackson or Tom Thibodeau speaks volumes about the way that this organization is handling things.

Anyways, the Bulls made life hard for LeBron, which is always great to see as there’s a good chance these two teams will meet in the playoffs sometime, as well as it’s just good to see the Bulls play with some heart. Derrick was able to get to the rim all day, they’d just spin out unfortunately. Taj had a really great game and has settled in well since being named a starter.

Game 44: Miami at ChicagoHey, the Bulls lost a game they should’ve won. Stop me if you heard that one before. Illinois native (c’mon, Robbins is nowhere near close to Chicago) Dwyane Wade turned back the clock and killed the Bulls. Jimmy Butler did what he could, but he had to take a turn guarding three very different players in Wade, Luol Deng and Justice Winslow. Add in that he had to shoulder the offensive load once Derrick Rose left with hamstring issues and Jimmy G. Buckets just couldn’t do it all by himself.

Game 45: Chicago at LakersFinally, the Bulls were able to blow out a bad team in dominant fashion. This was probably the best collective game between Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. They showed why they’re in the running for the second best backcourt in the league. Rose went 7-for-12 for 16 points and a few beautiful dimes, while Butler added 26 points and four steals.

Game 46: Chicago at ClippersBasketball is a game of runs and the Clippers bench – really Jamal Crawford – kept getting hot whenever they got into the game. Jimmy Butler struggled for whatever reason, shooting only 8-for-22 for 23 points. Derrick Rose had a strong game, going 10-for-17 for 20 points and had a few beautiful plays, including this one.

Hot: Derrick RoseI’ve saved my Derrick Rose comments for stat of the week, but *DJ Khaled voice* just know that Chicago’s native son is en fuego.

Not: Tony SnellTony Snell is only averaging 5.4 points per game in the month of January, which includes a game where he scored 10 and another where he scored 17. His minutes have gone down recently, which is not a good sign considering that Nikola Mirotic is sidelined momentarily as well as Mike Dunleavy Jr. is still out with a back injury.

Stat of the Week: 46%, 29.2%, and 17.4Those are Derrick Rose’s January stats as of the publication of this writing: he’s shooting 46% from the field, 29.2% from three and averaging 17.4 points per game. This is important because for his career, Rose averages 44.8% from the field, 30% from three and 19.8 points per game. So, in other words, he’s pretty much back to where he was from a game-by-game basis. It’s apparent in games too. Rose has the burst and the handles still, and while he has undoubtedly lost a step, he still has great speed. He finished around contact instead of through it, but that’s to be expected when he’s had three major knee surgeries within the last four years. Honestly, the demise of Derrick Rose has been greatly exaggerated and those that maintain that the Bulls would be better off without Rose clearly have not been paying attention to the Bulls and how they play with and without Rose. Yes, Jimmy Butler has put up huge numbers without Rose in the lineup but Butler has to put on a Herculean effort in order to bring Chicago victories. That type of effort is not sustainable and will not flourish come playoff time. The more Derrick Rose can get back to his high performing self – and it seems like he’s there – the better off the Bulls are.

One Thing I Think:I think the Bulls have to do some soul searching and figure out what kind of team they want to be. It seems like they come out every night not knowing what they want to do and how they want to impose their will on teams. Are they going to be a team that is up-tempo and tries to tire out their opponents? Are they going to stretch the floor and be more perimeter oriented? Are they going to be a team that bases their offense off the pick and roll and ball movement? Are they going to work from the post outwards? Are they going to be a defensive team and make you work every game? We’ve seen the Bulls be all of these teams to varying success, but they don’t specialize in any one thing, which is where a lot of the frustration comes from. If they don’t even know what they want to do, they can’t simply rely on talent to “just figure it out” throughout games. Yes, this is probably the most talented Bulls team we’ve seen in a while, specifically offensively, but there are other teams that are just as and more talented out there. But those teams also know – for the most part – what they want to do. Once the Bulls find their niche, I think they can have long-term success. Now, if they stick to one thing and it doesn’t work, then it’s time to move players/pieces in the offseason, namely to become a more athletic team. But there’s only so much they can do right now with guys hurt, guys not playing well and limited assets. So while there might be a minor move made, this is the team that’ll be competing in the playoffs. If they can pull themselves together, who knows? Maybe they’ll be able to upset the Cavs and make it to the Finals. Or at least make a potential series interesting. But until they figure out exactly what they want to do, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where that plays out.